Invalid handling device for bathtubs



Jan. 24, 1961 E. ASHBY, JR 2,968,314

INVALID HANDLING DEVICE FOR BATHTUBS Filed April 21, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EDWARD P. ASH BY,Jr.

A TTORNEY fi (6. WW JL.

Jan. 24, 1961 E. P. ASHBY, JR

INVALID HANDLING DEVICE FOR BATI-ITUBS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 21, 1959 .INVENTOR. EDWARD P. ASHBY, Jr.

ATTORNEY United States PatentO INVALID HANDLING DEVICE FOR BATHTUBS Edward P. Ashby, J12, 3544 S St. NW Washington, D.C.

Filed Apr. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 807,917

2 Claims. (Cl. 4-135) The invention relates to an invalid handling device for bathtubs.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a simplified relatively lightweight device for safety and easily lowering and elevating an incapacitated person in a bathtub.

A further object of the invention is to provide invalid handling means of the above-mentioned character adapted to be placed bodily within any standard bathtub, and used in conjunction with the bathtub for elevating and lowering the patient in the desired manner.

Another object is to provide an invalid handling device for bathtubs, the use of which device requires no structural alterations of the bathtub or attachment of fixtures thereto.

A further important object is to provide invalid handling means of the above-mentioned character which may be readily operated by a single attendant or nurse with a minimum of physical effort.

Still another object is to provide invalid handling means of the above-mentioned character which is rugged and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, reliable in operation and easy to maintain in a sanitary condition.

A further object is to provide a device of the abovementioned character which does not employ electrical or power operated equipment in conjunction therewith, thereby greatly reducing hazards attendant to the handling of patients in water.

Another object of the invention is to provide an invalid handling device for bathtubs having manual operating means which remain above the water level in the bathtub at all times, so that the operator or attendant need not extend his hand or arm into the water while lowering or elevating the patient.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an invalid handling device for bathtubs according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the device with parts positioned for elevating the patient.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the device with parts positioned for lowering the patient.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the device, looking at its end which is opposite to the end shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the operating means of the invalid handling device.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates generally a horizontal rectangular base frame, adapted to be formed of pipe, aluminum tubing or the like. prises parallel longitudinal sides 11 and parallel transverse ends 12 and 13 arranged at right angles to the sides 11, as shown. Corresponding ends of the frame sides 11 are rigidly secured to the frame end 13 by tubular T-couplings 14. The opposite corresponding ends of the frame sides 11 are similarly rigidly secured to the other frame end 12 by modified T-couplings 15 having upstanding risers 16 for a purpose to be described. The rectangular horizontal base frame 10 is considerably longer in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction, and the base frame constructed as above described is rigid and stable.

A vertical inverted U-shaped frame 17 formed of aluminum tubing or the like is disposed at one end of the base frame 10 and rises above the base frame at right angles thereto. The frame 17 comprises spaced parallel vertical legs 18 and a top horizontal crossbar 19 integral therewith, as shown. The lower ends of the legs 18 are rigidly secured within the upstanding risers 16 of the couplings 15, as shown. The vertical frame 17 is thus rigidly secured in assembly to the horizontal base frame 10.

The device further comprises a horizontal rectangular lifting platform shown generally at 20. The platform 20 embodies a rigid rectangular frame including parallel longitudinal frame bars 21 and parallel transverse frame bars 22 and 23, arranged at right angles to the bar 21. The bars 21, 22 and 23 may be formed of aluminum tubing or the like. Corresponding ends of the longitudinal frame bars 21 are rigidly connected with the transverse bar 23 through the medium of T-couplings 24. The other corresponding ends of the longitudinal bars 21 are similarly rigidly connected with the other transverse bar 22 by means of rigid tubular couplings 25, including vertical sleeve portions 26 which slidably receive the vertical legs 18. The frame constituted by the bars 21, 22 and 23 is coextensive with the base frame 10, as shown inthe drawings. I

The platform 20 further comprises an auxiliary rectangular frame 27 of metal or the like having a multiplicity of longitudinal and transverse tapes or webs 28 and 29 permanently secured thereto in a conventional manner. The tapes 28 and 29 are preferably formed of nylon or some suitable waterproof plastics material. The tapes carried by the auxiliary frame 27 are taut and adequately strong to bear the weight of a heavy patient. The tapes 28 and 29 cross and interfit as shown in the drawings, and open spaces are provided at the interstices of the longitudinal and transverse tapes so that water may readily flow through the tapes.

The auxiliary frame 27 carrying the tapes 28 and 29 is attached to the main frame of the platform 20 at a plurality of points along the bars 21,. 22 and 23 by suitable attaching elements 30 of corrosion resistant wire or the like. If preferred, the auxiliary frame 27 may be secured to the main frame of the platform 20 by any other suitable means, and the tapes 28 and 29 could even be attached directly to the main frameconstituted by the bars 21, 22 and 23 if preferred.

Means are provided for interconnecting the horizontal platform 20 and base frame 11 and for elevating and lowering the platform relative to the base frame. Such means comprises a pair of longitudinal rock shafts 31 extending entirely through and freely journaled for rotation within the base frame sides 11 and the couplings 14 and 15. These rock shafts 31 may also be formed of aluminum tubing or the like. Transverse arms 32 are preferably formed integral with the rock shafts 31 and arranged outwardly of the couplings l4 and 15 and The base frame 10 com' close to the latter. The arms 32 extend at right angles to the rock shafts 31. Links 33 of equal lengths to the arms 32 are pivoted at 34 to the ends of arms 32, and the upper ends of the links 33 are pivotally secured at 35. to the couplings 24 and 25 of the vertically movable patient supporting platform Ztl. The arms 32 and links 33 operate in vertical planes with a scissor action as the platform 20 is raised and lowered, and the lengths of the arms and links are such that their pivot joints 34 will always break inwardly and never reach a dead center condition, even when the platform 23 is elevated to the maximum extent possible.

A long vertical operating screw shaft 36 is provided at the transverse center of the inverted U-shaped frame 17, and this screw shaft 36 has screw-threaded engagement within a nut 37 having horizontal Coupling parts 38 formed integral therewith and receiving the transverse bar 22 which is formed in two sections as shown in Figure 6. The lower end of screw shaft 36 has a reduced cylindrical extension 39 journalecl for rotation within a bearing 40 having integral horizontal socket parts 41, which receive the frame end 12, which may likewise be formed in two sections, if desired, as shown in Figure 6. The upper end of screw shaft 36 also has a reduced cylindrical extension 42 journaled for rotation Within a bearing 43, having horizontal socket parts 44 receiving the crossbar 19, which is likewise formed in two sections as indicated in Figure 6. A handle or crank 45 rotatable in a horizontal plane is rigidly secured at 46 to the upper extremity of the screw shaft 36 for turning the latter.

A rectangular back rest shown generally at 47 is provided upon the device. The back rest 47 has a rigid rectangular frame 48 formed of aluminum tubing or the like, which frame is pivotally secured to the transverse bar 23 of the vertically movable platform 29 through the medium of bearings 49. The back rest 47 may have an auxiliary frame 50 similar to the frame 27 of plat form 20, and tapes 51 and 52 similar to the tapes 28 and 29 are carried by the auxiliary frame 50, as shown in the drawings.

The back rest 47 is vertically swingable and adjusabe upon the platform 20, and to this end, a pair of diagonal braces 53 have their forward ends pivotally secured at 54 to the longitudinal frame bars 21. The opposite end portions of the braces 53 are longitudinally slotted and notched within their slots as shown at 55, and pins or detent elements 56, carried by opposite sides of the back rest 47, are slidable through the slots of the braces 53 and selectively engageable within any of the several notches 55. By this arrangement, the desired angle of inclination of the back rest 47 may be obtained. If preferred, other specific and conventional means may be utilized to form the adjustable connection between the back rest 47 and platform 2% If preferred, the back rest may be omitted entirely from the device.

In the use or operation of the device for handling an invalid in the bathtub, the device is placed bodily into the bathtub as indicated diagrammatically by the broken lines in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The entire device is relatively light and may readily be lifted by a single attendant for placing it into the tub or removing it therefrom.

By using the handle 45, the attendant adjusts the elevation of the platform 20 to a point near the top of the bathtub, and the invalid or patient is brought to the bathtub in a wheel chair or on a wheeled stretcher and transferred to the platform 20, with the back rest 47 adjusted in the desired manner. The handle 45 is now turned in the proper direction for lowering the platform 20 into the tub, and the entire platform will move downwardly to an elevation near the bottom of the tub as shown clearly in Figure 4. The platform 20' remains horizontal and cannot tilt or sway at any time during the operation of the device.

After the patient has been bathed, the handle 45 is again turned to elevate theplatform 2t? to the top of the bathtub and the patient is removed from the device and placed in the wheel chair or on the wheeled stretcher.

When the handle 45 is turned, the screw shaft 36 rotates within its bearings 40 and 43, and the nut 37 travels longitudinally of the screw shaft 36 in the up or down direction. The tubular sleeves 26 of the couplings 25 slide vertically upon the legs 13 of frame 17, and the links 33 and arms 32 operate with a scissor action between their extreme positions shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. The rock shafts 31 carrying the arms 32 turn freely within the tubular frame sides 11, as previously stated. The weight of the patient upon the platform 26.9 is thus transmitted through the links 33 and arms 32 to the stable horizontal base frame 10.

The device is highly simplified, lightweight, extremely safe and easy to operate, and the attendant utilizing the handle 45 need never place his or her hands within the water of the bathtub.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An invalid handling device to be removably mounted in bathtubs comprising, an elongated substantially horizontal base frame comprising transversely spaced longitudinal tubes and transverse elements connecting the ends of the tubes, the base frame being mounted upon and supported by the bottom of bathtub, an invalid supporting platform including a generally horizontal upper frame including transverse spaced sides and transverse elements connecting the ends of said spaced sides, an upstanding frame mounted upon one end only of the lower generally horizontal base frame and including substantially vertical posts, sleeves slidably mounted upon the posts to he raised and lowered with relation thereto and mounted upon the sides of the upper frame, adjustable means connected with the sleeves and connected with the upstanding frame and serving to raise and lower said sleeves and to positively hold then in a selected adjusted positon, two horizontal rock shafts mounted within said longitudinal tubes of the base frame, said rock shafts extending beyond the ends of the longitudinal tubes, cranks rigidly connected with the ends of the rock shafts which ends are adjacent to the upstanding frame, links pivotally connected with the sleeves and pivotally connected with the upper ends of the cranks, the cranks and links being angularly disposed with relation to each other, the cranks and links serving to turn the rock shafts upon their longitudinal axes and positively hold them in the adjusted position, second cranks rigidly connected with the oppostie ends of the rock shafts to positively move with the rock shafts, links pivotally connected with the end of the upper frame which is adjacent to the second cranks, means pivotally connecting the last named links with the second cranks, the last named links and second cranks being angularly arranged with relation to each other, the second cranks and last named links constituting the sole means for sup porting and guiding the end of the upper frame which is adjacent to the second cranks.

2. An invalid handling device to be removably mounted in bathtubs comprising, an elongated substantially horizontal base frame comprising transversely spaced longitudinal side members and transverse elements connecting the ends of the side members, the base frame being mounted upon and supported by the bottom of bathtub, an invalid supporting platform including a generally horizontal upper frame including transversely spaced sides and transverse elements connecting the ends of said spaced sides, an upstanding frame mounted upon one end only of the lower generally horizontal base frame and including substantially vertical posts, sleeves slidably mounted upon the posts to be raised and lowered with relation thereto and mounted upon the sides of the upper frame, adjustable means connected with the sleeves and connected with the upstanding frame and serving to raise and lower said sleeves and to positively hold them in a selected adjusted positon, two horizontal rock shafts extending longitudinally of the base frame and carried by said side members, said rock shafts extending beyond the ends of the side members, cranks rigidly connected with the ends of the rock shafts which ends are adjacent to the upstanding frame, links pivotally connected with the sleeves and pivotally connected with the upper ends of the cranks, the cranks and links being angularly disposed with relation to each other, the cranks and links serving to turn the rock shafts upon their longitudinal axes and positively hold them in the adjusted position, second cranks rigidly connected with the opposite ends of the rock shafts to positively move with the rock shafts,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 836,889 Parkhill Nov. 27, 1906 1,088,419 Heyer Feb. 24, 1914 1,089,208 Gosnell et a1. Mar. 3, 1914 1,156,127 Anderson Oct. 12, 1915 1,710,823 Hackney Apr. 30, 1929 2,555,160 Schwarz May 29, 1951 Sanford Jan. 27, 1959 

